Twitch's next step for live video game broadcasting: Subscriptions

Video streaming service Twitch is going all-in on its live video game broadcasting, launching a new subscription-based scheme that allows users to watch uninterrupted, ad-free broadcasts. The new Twitch Turbo is a premium service that, alongside the live broadcasts, offers subscribers enhanced interactivity with broadcasters via extra chat features. The subscription costs $8.99 a month, and can be purchased from the Twitch website. Twitch currently has an audience of more than 23 million monthly viewers -- nearly triple its numbers a year ago, and growing by 10 to 15 percent per month. Popular eSports like League of Legends and StarCraft II have huge community hubs on the service. Twitch told Gamasutra recently that "basically anything that could be considered a competitive video game experience is being broadcasted and being watched on Twitch."